Joao Moutinho admits he would be tempted by Tottenham move

Joao Moutinho has hinted he would be interested in a move to Tottenham, who could step up their chase for the Porto midfielder after moving closer to selling Luka Modric to Real Madrid.

Joao Moutinho is keen on leaving the Portuguese league (Photo by: Getty Images)

Manager Andre Villas Boas has spoken of his admiration for the 25-year-old playmaker and could soon have money to spend as Modric is reportedly on his way to Madrid for a medical.

‘I will continue to work,’ Moutinho told RTP. ‘If an offer arrives, and it is good for both parties, Porto will, of course, study it.

Scott Parker could miss the opening two months of the season (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I do not know if there is the possibility of joining Tottenham.

‘Every player has the ambition to try new leagues, but I am at Porto and I will continue to work in the same way.’

The 25-year-old midfielder, who appeared in Porto’s Supercup win on Saturday, has a £31million release clause on his contract that runs until 2015.

With Modric absent, Scott Parker out through injury and Sandro having not yet trained under Villas Boas due to his Brazil commitments, Tottenham go into the new season with question marks over their midfield.

They are likely to field newly-capped England midfielder Jake Livermore, summer signing Gylfi Sigurdsson and forgotten man Jermaine Jenas – who has started just 12 Premier League games for the club over the past two seasons – in their clash at Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Gareth Bale is an injury concern after suffering a knock during Wales’ 2-0 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina last night.